Nwaiwu Onuachu Dessers delivered a Sunday to remember for Nigerian football, with the Trabzonspor pair setting up both goals in a 2-0 win at Alanyaspor before Cyriel Dessers struck his 10th goal of the season in Panathinaikos’ 2-1 comeback at Iraklis. It was the kind of weekend that makes Eric Chelle’s Tanzania selection look even more interesting — one of the three is in the Super Eagles squad, and two are not.
Chibuike Nwaiwu and Paul Onuachu were the architects in Turkey. Trabzonspor flew out of the blocks at the Alanya Oba Stadium, and it was centre-back Nwaiwu who started the move for the opener, sliding a long pass through for Wagner Pina to finish in the 17th minute. Onuachu then showed the striker’s touch of a provider just before half-time, redirecting Ernest Muci’s pass into the path of Mohamed Salah, who finished with his left foot to make it 2-0 in the 34th minute.
The win was Trabzonspor’s sixth in a row in the Super Lig and lifted the Black Sea Storm to second in the table on 25 points from 11 matches, just three behind leaders Galatasaray. Goalkeeper Andre Onana kept the clean sheet intact with two spectacular late saves, denying Alanyaspor in the 84th and 92nd minutes. Onuachu was replaced in the 89th minute, while Nwaiwu picked up a late booking in stoppage time that rules him out of Trabzonspor’s next league game.
Nwaiwu Onuachu Dessers: one in the squad, two watching from afar
The timing could hardly be better for Nwaiwu. The defender is one of the 24 players Chelle named for Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania, and he will report to the Super Eagles camp in Uyo in form, having played a direct hand in a win that keeps Trabzonspor firmly in the Turkish title race. The squad’s first training session is on Tuesday at the practice pitch of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Onuachu and Dessers, by contrast, were both left out of Chelle’s list — and both spent Sunday making the case that the door should stay open. Onuachu’s assist was his latest contribution in a Trabzonspor shirt, while Dessers continues to be one of the most productive Nigerian strikers in Europe this season.
Dessers hits 10 as Panathinaikos fight back in Greece
Dessers needed no second invitation in Thessaloniki. Panathinaikos trailed at the break after Pedro Marques had given Iraklis a 17th-minute lead, but the Nigerian striker levelled 11 minutes into the second half, meeting Giorgos Kyriakopoulos’ cross to fire home in the 56th minute. It was his first goal since October 25, and it changed the game.
Davide Calabria completed the turnaround from the penalty spot in the fourth minute of stoppage time, sealing a 2-1 win that keeps Panathinaikos at the top of Group A in the Greek Super League. Dessers was replaced by Elmin Rastoder in the 84th minute, his work done. The equaliser took him to 10 goals in all competitions this season — four in eight league games and six in 15 UEFA Europa Conference League matches.
What it means for the Tanzania double-header
Nigeria host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, before the return leg at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17. With Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze out injured, Chelle’s attack will lean on Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, Taiwo Awoniyi, Akor Adams and Moses Simon — but the form of the men left out will not go unnoticed if the goals dry up in Uyo.
For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions. Nwaiwu, at least, arrives in camp with a win, an assist and a reminder of exactly what he can do. Onuachu and Dessers can only keep scoring and wait for the next call.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC0) — collage by SportsBuddy
